Elizabeth's comments (member since Oct 23, 2008)

Elizabeth's comments from the The Rory Gilmore Book Club group.

1. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
2. Vanity Fair

1. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
2. Uncle Tom's Cabin

Normally I don't do this but I'm reading two books right now. The first, City of God by E.L. Doctorow is for another book club. I'm having some trouble with it as it doesn't seem to be really focused. If anyone else has read it, I'd really appreciate some feedback as I'm not sure if I'll be able to get through it or not.
I'm also reading a non-fiction piece Lucky Child A Daughter of Cambodia Reunites with the Sister She Left Behind by Loung Ung. It's a sequel to First They Killed My Father A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers which I read last year and thought was absolutely amazing. Already I can tell that the sequel is going to be great too. I strongly recommend both books to anyone looking to read some non-fiction.

1. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
2. The Red Tent
3. Oryx and Crake

SPOILER!

Gwynne,

I also felt the part about Jimmy Z being the Muslim leader was not impressive. It certainly deserved a better explanation as to how he ended up there. Plus it felt like Jimmy's story was still unfinished when Desdemona finds out about him being the leader and he leaves for who knows where. This was probably the only part of the book where I really felt that the author could have done a better job with it or just left it out altogether.

1. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
2. The Red Tent

Allison, I agree that it might just be easier to skip the nominations and go straight to the voting at least when we are not doing a theme month (like this past February

I have to say that this book really surprised me. The beginning chapter was really catchy and I didn't have any idea where it was going. But when I reached the part about Lefty and Desdomona I was completely disgusted and didn't think that I could continue. Than the amazing author worked it out in such a way that by the end of book one I couldn't have cared less. It was truely an example excellent writing.

I just bought The Virgin Suicides also by Jeffrey Eugenides. I can't wait to start it. If it's written almost as well as Middlesex I'm sure I'll love it.

1. 1984
2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
3. Uncle Tom's Cabin

1. Middlesex
2. The Kite Runner
3. My Sister's Keeper

Kathryn wrote: "Thank you, Elizabeth, for mentioning The Little Lady Agency! I got it for my cross-co..."

I'm so glad you're enjoying it Kathryn!

1. The Red Tent
2. Oryx and Crake
3. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Jessica, if you really like Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, than I strongly recommend anything by R.A. Salvatore.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
This book has some great lol moments.

Slave by Mende Nazer and
First They Killed My Father A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung are both very moving.

Hannah wrote: "Elizabeth, it sounds great to discuss. I have been a little disappointed in the 1001 Books group. I don't want to bash on other groups, but I do have to say I am very thankful for how respectful ..."

Hannah, I sent my list directly to your Goodreads inbox. Let me know if you don't get it.

Hannah wrote: "Elizabeth, I love your goals. and I wish you great luck on finishing them. I read the whole Bible a couple years ago when I was in high school. I really enjoyed and was very proud of myself after..."

Thanks Hannah. I'd love to discuss the 1001 books with you. I am a member of the Goodreads group but lately there has been a lot of non-list book discussions that kind of defeats the purpose.

I actually tried to read the whole Bible two years ago but got stuck in Leviticus and never pushed myself through. This time I'm following a different plan that has the reading split up. I'm hoping that it will help me keep my focus through some of the dryer parts.

Everyone's goals are so ambitious and I really admire all of you for it! But now as I actually write my out I realize that mine are quite ambitious too.

Maybe we can have follow-up threads once a month or so, to see how everyone is doing and support each other so we stay on track? I know that I'll have trouble staying focused at least!

My Goals:
1. Read the whole Bible this year. I need to read about 4 chapters a day. (It sounds easy and I've started off strong, but it will probably fall apart on me as soon as some sort of distraction comes up.)

2. I'm also attempting the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die. I need to read 19 this year to stay on track.

3. Read everything on my to-read shelf, which is about 30 books right now (but that number will probably increase given that I also have a problem with acquiring more books everytime I go the library or the book store).

4. Read all monthly selections made by our Rory group.

Kathryn, Fantastic thread idea! Thanks! :)

My Favorite fiction piece was Life of Pi just because it was so different and the ending had a great twist. I also enjoyed: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.

For the first time this year I read a lot of non-fiction and I am so glad that I did. I learned a lot and enjoyed some high quality reading. Here are my favorites:
Slave by Mende Nazer - I couldn't put this book down and it left me completely stunned. My copy has now been passed around to at least 5 different people (that I know of) and they all felt the same way that I did.

First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers byLoung Ung which had a similar impact on me as Slave. There is a sequel which I plan to read this year.

And finally...Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O'Brien. This book is very sweet and an amazing story that I never even considered before.

1. Emma
2. Ethan Frome
3. The Hunchback of Notre Dame

I read this book for the first time a couple of years ago and fell in love with it immediately. I read it again about a year ago and will probably read it again in the near future. I know a lot of people commented when we read Little Women about how they treasure that book and are able to read it over and over again. I think that might be the case for me with The Secret Life of Bees. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe it's because I relate really well with Lily. I went through a similar rough patch in my life when I was Lily's age. I just wish that I had had August, May and June in my life to help me through it like Lily did.

I just finished A Dirty Job: A Novel. It's a great read if you are looking for something REALLY different and that's absolutely hilarious.